分类： health

Off the coast of Cape Verde’s capital Praia, a major international public health emergency involving the expedition cruise ship MV Hondius has moved toward a partial resolution this week, after days of stalled negotiations to evacuate severely ill people onboard. Three people have already died from suspected hantavirus infection, a rare zoonotic disease most commonly transmitted to humans via exposure to infected rodents’ urine, feces, or saliva.

On Tuesday, the vessel’s Dutch operator Oceanwide Expeditions announced a coordinated plan to evacuate two gravely ill crew members and a close contact of one of the deceased passengers to the Netherlands for urgent medical treatment. Once this evacuation is complete, the ship will be allowed to continue its journey north, with plans to dock in one of Spain’s Canary Islands—either Gran Canaria or Tenerife—after a three-day voyage, according to the operator. Discussions with Spanish health authorities are still ongoing to finalize arrival arrangements, after Spanish officials previously requested full health data from the vessel before approving docking.

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the evacuation plan is moving forward. Ann Lindstrand, WHO’s representative in Cape Verde, told reporters that the operation is logistically complicated: an ambulance will transport the three evacuees from Praia’s port to the local airport, where a dedicated evacuation plane will wait to carry them to Europe. She added that the ship is expected to depart Cape Verdean waters in the middle of the night once the evacuation is completed.

The outbreak first raised alarms on Saturday, when global health officials were notified of three deaths linked to suspected hantavirus among the ship’s company. MV Hondius departed Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1 on an expedition voyage bound for Cape Verde, carrying 88 passengers and 59 crew members representing 23 nationalities. Cape Verdean authorities refused the ship permission to dock after the outbreak was declared, forcing all remaining passengers and crew into isolation off the coast while global health teams scrambled to coordinate a response.

To date, WHO has confirmed two cases of hantavirus infection – one a fatality, and a second a British passenger currently in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa. Five additional cases are still under investigation, bringing the total suspected and confirmed cases to seven. Along with the three deaths, one patient is in critical condition in Johannesburg, three people remaining onboard have experienced mild symptoms, and one of those three has already recovered and become asymptomatic.

The timeline of the outbreak has left epidemiologists working to trace the origin of the infection. The first person to develop symptoms fell ill on April 6, just five days after the ship departed Argentina. The first two deaths were a Dutch couple: the husband died on April 11, and his wife accompanied his body off the ship at Saint Helena, a remote Atlantic island, before flying to Johannesburg, where she died on April 27 after developing gastrointestinal symptoms. A third German passenger died on Saturday.

Contact tracing is already underway for the 82 passengers and six crew members on the Airlink flight that carried the deceased Dutch woman to Johannesburg. A representative for the airline confirmed South African health authorities have requested all flight contacts reach out to public health officials for monitoring.

Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, told reporters Tuesday that investigators are still working to confirm the exact strain of hantavirus involved, though the working hypothesis is that it is the Andes virus – the only hantavirus strain previously documented to spread between humans. Van Kerkhove added that there are no rats onboard the MV Hondius, eliminating a potential onboard reservoir for the virus, and the WHO currently believes the original infections likely occurred off the ship. The Dutch couple had traveled through South America before boarding, and the ship’s expedition itinerary includes frequent shore stops on Atlantic islands for birdwatching and other outdoor activities, meaning infection could have occurred during a shore visit. Investigators also believe limited human-to-human transmission may have occurred between close contacts onboard.

At this stage, WHO has emphasized that the current risk of widespread transmission to the global population remains low. South African researchers are currently conducting genetic sequencing on virus samples to confirm the strain and help guide the ongoing public health response.

GENEVA, Switzerland – The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an official update Tuesday confirming two laboratory-verified hantavirus infections and five additional suspected cases among passengers and crew aboard a cruise ship anchored off the coast of Cape Verde, with three people already dead from the outbreak.

In a formal statement, the UN health agency outlined that as of May 4, 2026, the cluster of infections includes one patient in critical condition and three others experiencing only mild symptoms. The vessel, the MV Hondurus operated by Dutch expedition cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions, was carrying a total of 147 people representing 23 nationalities when the outbreak unfolded during a voyage from Ushuaia, Argentina, to its destination off West Africa. The first onset of illness among those affected was recorded between April 6 and April 28, 2026.

Symptoms of the infection reported on the ship follow the typical severe profile of hantavirus: patients initially develop fever and gastrointestinal distress, which progresses rapidly to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome and life-threatening shock. Further epidemiological and clinical investigations are still underway to map the origin and spread of the virus, per WHO.

The first two fatalities were a Dutch married couple: the husband died on board the vessel on April 11, and his wife, who had already developed gastrointestinal symptoms, disembarked at Saint Helena to accompany his remains for repatriation. She grew progressively worse during a commercial flight from Saint Helena to Johannesburg on April 25, and died after arriving at a South African emergency department the following day. Her infection was confirmed as hantavirus via PCR testing on May 4. In response to this exposure event, WHO has launched contact tracing efforts to reach every passenger who shared that April 25 flight with the infected woman, to screen for potential new cases.

Of the seven confirmed and suspected cases, three have already left the MV Hondurus, while four remain on the stranded vessel. A third fatality, a German national, died on board on Saturday. According to Oceanwide Expeditions, a British passenger is currently receiving treatment in intensive care in Johannesburg, while two additional crew members – one British and one Dutch – require urgent medical intervention.

The ship currently holds passengers and crew from a wide range of origins, including the United Kingdom, Spain, the United States and the Philippines, where most of the crew hail from.

WHO experts emphasized that while the outbreak is concerning for those on the ship, the overall risk of widespread transmission to the global population remains classified as low. The agency noted it will continue maintaining active surveillance and monitoring of the situation as investigations progress.

As a pathogen, hantavirus causes rare but often severe, potentially fatal infections in humans. Most infections are acquired through direct or indirect contact with urine, feces, or saliva from infected rodent populations. However, WHO confirmed that limited human-to-human transmission has been documented in past hantavirus outbreaks in other regions.

Every May, communities around the world observe Mental Health Awareness Month, an annual initiative designed to break down long-held stigma around psychological distress, expand public understanding of emotional wellbeing, and motivate people of all backgrounds to prioritize their mental health. This year, clinical experts are turning focused attention to the distinct, overlapping pressures that disproportionately impact women’s mental health – pressures forged by biological shifts, deeply ingrained social expectations, and the unbalanced distribution of domestic and emotional labor across most households.

Angela Dacres, a licensed mental health counselor, explains that the challenges women face often cut across every domain of daily life, intersecting in complex ways that make consistent emotional wellbeing harder to maintain. For this reason, she argues, intentional awareness and targeted action during Mental Health Awareness Month are especially critical for women navigating these overlapping stressors.

Unlike many other demographic groups, women’s mental health is tightly intertwined with lifelong hormonal and physical changes that can trigger dramatic shifts in emotional state. From the premenstrual mood fluctuations many face each cycle to the dramatic biological upheaval of pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and menopause, these physiological shifts create consistent emotional vulnerability that is still widely overlooked by both the public and many healthcare providers. Conditions like postpartum depression, for example, are a widespread and serious public health issue, yet they remain widely misunderstood, downplayed, or misdiagnosed, leaving millions of women without the support they need.

Compounding these biological challenges are unforgiving social norms that demand women maintain high levels of productivity even when they are struggling with physical fatigue, chronic pain, or intense emotional strain. This constant pressure to perform often leads to burnout before many women even recognize they are experiencing distress. Systemic and cultural barriers only make this worse: limited access to affordable mental healthcare, persistent cultural stigma around seeking help for psychological issues, and a widespread lack of structural support leave many women unable to reach out for care even when they recognize they need it.

One of the most underrecognized contributors to poor mental health among women is the unequal distribution of invisible emotional labor within family units. In the vast majority of households, women still serve as the primary caregivers for children, elderly relatives, and partners, taking on not just physical household tasks but also the full responsibility for managing every family member’s emotional needs. This uncompensated, unseen work – from remembering every family member’s schedule and medical appointments to mediating conflicts between relatives to maintaining the emotional stability of the home – is consistently draining and rarely acknowledged by other household members or society at large. Over time, the constant weight of this responsibility, paired with little to no time left for personal rest or self-care, often leads to chronic stress, clinical anxiety, and a persistent feeling of being overwhelmed.

Romantic and personal partnerships add another layer of emotional pressure for many women. Social norms often push women into unequal dynamics that require them to take on most of the work of relationship communication, manage a partner’s emotional needs, and balance the expectation of independence with the pressure to prioritize a partner’s goals over their own. This widespread social pressure to put others’ needs before their own leads many women to suppress their own emotions and leave their core emotional needs unmet for years. In more extreme cases, when relationships are marked by conflict or a total lack of mutual support, this persistent imbalance can cause long-term damage to both mental health and self-esteem.

For women who are parents, the pressure is amplified even further by the pervasive cultural myth of the “perfect mother” that is constantly reinforced through social media and popular culture. Women are bombarded with unrealistic standards for what it means to be a “good mom,” leading to widespread feelings of guilt, crippling self-doubt, and constant unhealthy comparisons to other women. Juggling the demands of parenting with paid work, personal career goals, and maintaining a romantic partnership often feels unmanageable, and without adequate structural or familial support, many mothers end up experiencing chronic emotional exhaustion and social isolation.

Despite the scope of these challenges, Dacres emphasizes that Mental Health Awareness Month offers a critical, accessible opportunity for women to pause, reflect on their current state, reset their routines, and take intentional action to improve their long-term wellbeing. Meaningful action does not require dramatic overhauls of daily life, she notes: simple, consistent steps can make a profound difference over time. These steps include setting clear boundaries to protect personal time and energy, reaching out for licensed professional support when distress persists, and building intentional support networks with friends, family members, or local community groups who can step in during difficult times.

Dacres adds that this month is also an ideal time for women to prioritize realistic, guilt-free self-care that fits their individual schedules and needs. Whether that means prioritizing extra rest, adding regular low-impact movement to a routine, keeping a mood journal to process emotions, or simply taking small daily breaks without feeling guilty for putting their needs first, every small action counts. Educating oneself on common signs of chronic stress and burnout can also help women catch distress early before it develops into more serious mental health conditions.

Ultimately, Dacres explains, the goal of engaging with Mental Health Awareness Month as a woman is not to make dramatic, unsustainable changes to one’s life. It is to build consistent, small habits that support long-term emotional wellbeing. By openly acknowledging the unique challenges women face and taking intentional steps to address them, women can turn this annual awareness month into an opportunity to not just cope with daily stress, but to build lasting emotional resilience and create a healthier, more sustainable balance across all areas of their lives.

Off the coast of the West African archipelago nation of Cape Verde, a cruise ship anchored near the capital Praia remains in limbo after local authorities rejected requests for passengers to disembark, following a suspected hantavirus outbreak that has claimed three lives. The decision, framed as a critical protective measure for local communities, comes even as global health officials have stressed that overall public risk from the incident remains low.

The MV Hondius, operated by Netherlands-based adventure cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions, was en route from Ushuaia, Argentina when the outbreak unfolded. In its first official public statement on the incident, the operator confirmed the three fatalities: two people died while aboard the vessel, and a third passed away shortly after disembarking earlier in the journey. Currently, one passenger with a confirmed hantavirus infection is receiving intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa, while two additional people on the ship remain in need of urgent medical attention. No official confirmation of hantavirus has yet been released for these two symptomatic individuals.

Cape Verdean public health authorities made the ban on disembarkation clear in comments Sunday to local public broadcaster RTC. Maria da Luz Lima, president of the country’s National Institute of Public Health, confirmed that the vessel has not been granted permission to dock at Praia’s port, and no passengers or crew will be allowed to leave the ship while it is anchored off the coast. “There would be no contact between the passengers and the country,” Lima stated, emphasizing that the policy is designed solely to protect Cape Verde’s resident population. Local medics have been allowed to board the vessel to assess the condition of the two sick crew members, but no approval has been granted to move these individuals to onshore medical facilities.

Dutch authorities have stepped forward to lead an international coordination effort to repatriate the two symptomatic people on board to the Netherlands for treatment. A spokesperson for the Dutch foreign ministry confirmed to AFP that officials are actively exploring all options for a medical evacuation, and the ministry will take charge of coordination if the operation moves forward. Oceanwide Expeditions noted that the evacuation is contingent on multiple variables, chief among them receiving formal authorization from Cape Verdean local officials.

The World Health Organization has moved quickly to support the response effort, even as it works to calm public anxiety. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, reiterated in an official statement that the risk to the general global public from this event remains low, and there is no need for widespread panic or new travel restrictions. Kluge explained that hantavirus infections are rare in humans, and most cases are tied to exposure to virus-carrying rodents. While rare, the agency notes that the virus can occasionally spread between people, and may cause severe respiratory illness that requires close, ongoing medical monitoring.

As of Sunday, the WHO confirmed that one case of hantavirus has been definitively confirmed, with five additional suspected cases linked to the ship. The organization says it is working urgently with all affected countries to provide support for medical care, evacuation coordination, epidemiological investigation, and public health risk assessment. A key outstanding question remains at the center of the ongoing investigation: while one passenger has tested positive for hantavirus, authorities have not yet formally confirmed that the virus was the cause of the three deaths. Oceanwide Expeditions says the exact origin of the fatalities and any potential link to hantavirus remain under active investigation.

Ahead of Tuesday’s International Day of the Midwife, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) released a sobering assessment of midwifery systems across the Americas and Caribbean on Monday, highlighting widespread regulatory gaps that hold back life-saving maternal and reproductive care across the region.

According to the UN health agency’s analysis, only 60% of countries in the region have a national regulatory body that clearly outlines the full scope of practice for professional midwives, and just half have implemented formal systems for regular license renewal and ongoing quality assurance. PAHO officials emphasize that these systemic gaps prevent regional health systems from unlocking the full potential of midwifery personnel, leaving millions without access to consistent, high-quality, respectful maternity care.

At present, PAHO data collected through the National Health Workforce Accounts platform counts more than 78,000 active midwifery professionals across the Americas, translating to an average density of 3.5 midwives per 10,000 people. However, this regional average masks stark geographic inequities: subregions including Central America and many parts of the Caribbean report critically low midwife densities, ranging from just 0.1 to 13.5 per 10,000 people. PAHO notes these disparities highlight the urgent need to expand midwife training, improve equitable distribution of the workforce, and boost retention of professionals in underserved high-need areas.

Despite these challenges, there are signs of progress across the region. Three-quarters of countries in the Americas now formally recognize midwifery as a distinct profession separate from nursing, a key milestone that paves the way for specialized education, greater professional autonomy, and clear regulatory frameworks that allow midwives to practice to the full extent of their training. Currently, 160 accredited professional midwifery training programs operate across the region, many of which have integrated modern digital learning tools, interprofessional education opportunities, and diverse clinical training settings to better prepare graduates. On average, 88% of these program graduates meet all core midwifery competency requirements, equipping them to deliver comprehensive care spanning sexual and reproductive health, pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care.

PAHO is currently collaborating closely with member states to strengthen midwifery systems and the broader regional health workforce. The agency supports data-driven national workforce planning, the development and modernization of midwifery education and training curricula, and the advancement of clear regulation and formal professional recognition. It also prioritizes the integration of midwives into interprofessional health care teams, and promotes the adoption of evidence-based clinical guidelines to raise care standards, including the expansion of respectful person-centered maternity care.

Benjamín Puertas, Unit Chief of Human Resources for Health at PAHO, emphasized that strengthening the midwifery workforce is a core strategic priority for the entire region. “Midwives are essential to expanding access to care, particularly in rural and underserved areas, and to ensuring continuity of high-quality services for women and newborns,” Puertas stated.

PAHO officials stress that when midwifery personnel are adequately trained, fully supported, and properly integrated into national health systems, they can deliver up to 90% of all essential sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and adolescent health interventions. Beyond improving pregnancy and birth safety, well-integrated midwifery also boosts broader public health outcomes including sexual health, adolescent health, disease prevention, and community-wide health promotion. Rooted in respectful, culturally congruent care that centers the unique social and community contexts of patients, midwifery also helps build long-term community trust in health services and advances broader health equity across populations. To unlock these benefits, PAHO is urging all regional governments to prioritize investment in midwifery as a foundational pillar of building resilient, equitable, people-centered national health systems.

Nearly seven months after Hurricane Melissa slammed into western Jamaica, destroying critical community healthcare infrastructure, the island nation is on the cusp of fully restoring primary care access for rural residents, with top health officials calling on locals to re-engage with local clinics to manage chronic conditions and reduce strain on overloaded hospitals.

Jamaica’s Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton made the announcement during an April 30 press briefing, held immediately after he completed an inspection tour of the Black River Hospital and Health Centre in the parish of St Elizabeth, one of the regions hardest hit by last October’s storm. Of the 23 public health centres operating across St Elizabeth before the hurricane, 10 suffered severe structural damage that forced temporary closures and pushed thousands of patients to seek care at already crowded regional hospitals.

As of late April, all but one of the damaged clinics have completed repairs and resumed full operations, Tufton confirmed. The lone outlier, the Black River Health Centre, is currently undergoing final reconstruction work, with care currently being delivered out of a temporary container-based facility set up on the clinic’s original compound. Tufton projected that the full restoration will be finished by late May or early June, bringing all 23 St Elizabeth health centres back online to serve local communities.

The nationwide push to reopen storm-damaged primary care facilities is a core component of Jamaica’s broader public health strategy, which aims to center primary and preventive care rather than rely on overstretched hospital services. By encouraging patients to return to community clinics for routine chronic disease management, preventive health screenings, and prescription refills, officials hope to decongest acute care hospitals, extend essential services to underserved rural populations, and reduce the rate of preventable hospitalizations that strain both the public health system and household finances.

Currently, only around 80% of former primary care patients have resumed regular visits to their local clinics, a gap Tufton attributes to lingering disruption from the hurricane. Recognizing the trauma that storm-affected communities have endured, the ministry has launched a targeted community outreach effort, with community health aides and primary care teams going door-to-door to encourage residents of all ages to return to routine care.

“ We understand the trauma that they have been through, but we don’t want them to neglect their chronic illnesses, their screening opportunities, and their access to drugs, ” Tufton said, noting that consistent primary care is the foundation of long-term public health, national economic resilience, and protection for Jamaica’s most vulnerable populations.

The initiative also incorporates a data-driven framework to track progress: officials will monitor key metrics including patient re-engagement rates, completion of preventive screenings, and adherence to ongoing treatment plans to refine outreach efforts and address gaps in access.

Once full restoration is complete, the Black River Hospital – which was also heavily damaged by the storm – will operate close to 150 beds, a capacity that reflects the growing demand for expanded healthcare services across western Jamaica.